A cellulose ester composition is provided comprising at least one low hydroxyl content cellulose ester and at least one polymeric aliphatic polyester (PAP), and optionally at least one impact modifier and/or at least one monomeric plasticizer. Processes for producing the cellulose ester compositions as well as articles made using these compositions are also provided.

Provided is a method that enables industrially efficient production of an esterified polysaccharide product. A method for producing an esterified polysaccharide product, the method including reacting a polysaccharide-containing biomass, a basic ionic liquid with a pKa of a conjugate acid of an anion from 2 to 19 as a calculated value in a vacuum, and an esterifying agent using a kneader equipped with a shear force application mechanism. A cation constituting the basic ionic liquid is preferably one selected from the group consisting of an imidazolium cation, a pyridinium cation, and a tetraalkylammonium cation.

A shaped article comprising a polymer-based resin derived from cellulose, wherein the polymer-based resin has an HDT of at least 95° C., a bio-derived content of at least 20 wt %, a notched izod impact strength of greater than 80 J/m and at least one of the following properties chosen from: flexural modulus of greater than 1900 MPa; a spiral flow length or at least 3.0 cm; a flex creep deflection of less than 12 mm; a transmission of at least 70%; a ΔE value of less than 25; or an L* color of at least 85.

A shaped article comprising a polymer-based resin derived from cellulose, wherein the polymer-based resin has an HDT of at least 95° C., a bio-derived content of at least 20 wt %, a notched izod impact strength of greater than 80 J/m and at least one of the following properties chosen from: flexural modulus of greater than 1900 MPa; a spiral flow length or at least 3.0 cm; a flex creep deflection of less than 12 mm; a transmission of at least 70%; a ΔE value of less than 25; or an L* color of at least 85.

The present application discloses regioselectively substituted cellulose esters, films made from the regioselectively substituted cellulose esters and methods for making the same. The regioselectively substituted cellulose esters are synthesized using trifluoroacetic anhydride and cellulose with various acyl donors or acyl donor precursors.

The present application discloses regioselectively substituted cellulose esters, films made from the regioselectively substituted cellulose esters and methods for making the same. The regioselectively substituted cellulose esters are synthesized using trifluoroacetic anhydride and cellulose with various acyl donors or acyl donor precursors.

The present application discloses stretched films comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters and a component A: (I), (II), (III), or (IV), wherein A, B, C, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.8, R9, m, n, and k are defined herein. The films exhibit negative birefringence and improved wavelength dispersion.

##STR00001##

The present application discloses stretched films comprising regioselectively substituted cellulose esters and a component A: (I), (II), (III), or (IV), wherein A, B, C, R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.8, R9, m, n, and k are defined herein. The films exhibit negative birefringence and improved wavelength dispersion.

##STR00001##

A cellulose ester, wherein, in a structural formula of the following general formula (I), a degree of substitution where X is an acyl group is from 2.91 to 3.0; the acyl group includes benzoyl group (A) optionally having a substituent, and benzoyl group (B) optionally having a substituent different from that of benzoyl group (A); and when the degree of substitution is 3.0, a degree of substitution of benzoyl group (A) is from 1.5 to 2.9, and a degree of substitution of benzoyl group (B) is from 0.1 to 1.5, ##STR00001##
wherein all or some of X represents an acyl group; when some of X represents an acyl group, the remainder represents a group selected from a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group; and n represents an integer of from 20 to 20,000.

A cellulose ester, wherein, in a structural formula of the following general formula (I), a degree of substitution where X is an acyl group is from 2.91 to 3.0; the acyl group includes benzoyl group (A) optionally having a substituent, and benzoyl group (B) optionally having a substituent different from that of benzoyl group (A); and when the degree of substitution is 3.0, a degree of substitution of benzoyl group (A) is from 1.5 to 2.9, and a degree of substitution of benzoyl group (B) is from 0.1 to 1.5, ##STR00001##
wherein all or some of X represents an acyl group; when some of X represents an acyl group, the remainder represents a group selected from a hydrogen atom and an alkyl group; and n represents an integer of from 20 to 20,000.